Universal driving coupling



L. E. LA CROEX UNIVERSAL DRIVING COUPLING Filed Sept. 18 1925 Patented Qct. 26 1926.

outrun srnrss intense .ZZJQUIS E. ILA CROIX, OI- BALTEIOREE, MARYLAND.

Application filed September '18, 1925. serial No. 53,186.-

- I The present invention relates to power ularly to a universal -is reinforced where the transmitting connections, and more particdriving joint.

An object of the present invention is'to provide a universal Joint of that character which may be employed between the sections of a power ordrive shaft for effectively connecting the same together to turn as a unit, and to admit ofa relatively wide range of angular movement between the shaft sections without weakening'the connection and without binding or eiiecting any appreciable resistance to the operation of the shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universaldriving connection of this character which permits of the swinging of one section substantially thirty degrees with respect to the axis of the other section so that the universal driving connection may ,headapted for various uses where considerable angularmovement is necessary, such as when the shaft is used for driving" a steeringwheel of a front drive motor vehicle.

The invention further aims to provide a universal drive coupling of this nature which admits of easy and quick assembly, which strain is the greatest. and which is so constructed that itmay be housed and protected without interfering with thefree swinging of the coupling and without requiring external supports or braces. V

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of gimbal block which is relatively strong'and which is capable of""shifting longitudinally in its sockets, and {which is constructed with respect to the sockets so as to shift axially therein incident to the various angular positions and movements of the sockets on the gimbal block.

The above and various objects and advantages of this invention will in part be constructed according to described in and in part be understood from the following present preferred embodiment, the'same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein; 4 Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section a power transmitting universal coupling the present invention. the dotted lines showing one relative angular position between the shaft sections.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken through the coupling.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section staggered relation ,as and 4. The slots 1% and 17 do not overlap detailed description of the.

taken throu h the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, an

I Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the gimbalblock employed. Referring to the drawing 10 andll designatesa pair of drive shaft sections adapted to transmit power between the same. The shaft section 10 is provided with a cylindrir cal enlargement 12 on its-inner end which is hollow to form a socket and the'socket is provided with a relatively deep-or elongated opening 13 the inner end of which is given substantially-semi-spherical form and merges into the inner cylindrical wall of the socket 12. i I

The shaft scction li is similarly provided with a socket 14 corresponding in shape to the socket 12, and the two sockets 12 and 14. are adapted to receive therein the opposite ends of an elongated substantially'elliptical gimbal block 15.. As sh own in Fig. 2, the gimbal hlookl5 is of a length slightly less than the lengths of theopenings 13 in the that the rounded ends sockets 12 and 14 so of the gimbal block sliding action against the sockets 12 and 14.

The gimbal block 15 is provided in its opposite end portions with circumferential rows of axially elongated slots 16 and 17. The slots lfiand 17 are 15' may have a free shown in Figs. 2. 3

and thus a substantial body portion of the gimbal block 15 is interposed between the slots to lend rigidity and strength to the block. From Fig. 2 it will be noted that the bottom walls 18 of the slots extend substantiallv in parallelism with the axis of the block, and that owing to the elliptical configuration off the block 15, the slots 16 and 17 are gradually reduced in depth toward their outer ends. tains the gimbal block 15 from loose play in the sockets 12 and i l when the block is withdrawn outwardly from the sockets and.

turned at an angle thereto. The slots 16 and 17 are given substantial depth for receiving relatively large coupling pins 19 which are carried hy the sockets 12 and 14- and extend'inwardlytherefrom Each p n 19 is screw threaded at its outer end and is secured thereat in a threaded opening formed through the wall of the adjacent socket. the outer end of the pin lacing also kerfed for the reception of the hit ofa screw the inner surfaces oi.

till

arranged in ofi'set or This construction main driver or the like used in placing and removing the pin p I s Each socket 12 and 14 is provided with a numberof pins 19 corresponding to that of the slots, 16;for onesocket andllfor the othersocket. The pins 19 when engaged, in the 'gimbal block 15 are thus disposedg in circumferentially oliset relation in the coupling and permit ofthe free flexing of the coupling when theshaft sections 10 and 11 are moved into relatively angifian relation. In order to maintain ;,the coupling pins 19 from displacement, and. to reinforce and strengthen the outer, cylindrical portions of the sockets 1 2Iand ,141, each socket is provided with a ring "orband 20 threaded about the outer end of eachQsocket for, binding upon and about the end and for covering the outer ends of the pin receiving openings. 3 In orderto cover and protect the coupling against ingress of dust and foreign particles,

and to; retain a lubricant in andabout the coupling, the 'samexis provided with a flexible cover or sleeve 21 of leather or other suitable material which may be made in one or more pieces suitably secured about the coupling. The cover 21 isenlarged at its intermediate portion to give it the desired fullness to follow the sockets 12and llwhen swung into-difierent'angular positions, The opposite ends of the cover 21 are reduced'in diameter and closely fit the shaft sections; 10

and 11 at their points of juncture with their sockets 12 and 14. .j; I

Flexible bands or otherwise suitably formed rings 22 are secured about the oppo-- site ends of the cover: 21. to clamp the same securely about the shaft sections 10 and ll to seal the cover :21 over the joint. 1 v

The joint thus constructedmay be easily assembled by first placingthe rings 20iover the intermediate portion of the gimbal block 15, and then placingthe sockets 12 and. 14 over the opposite ends of the gimbal'block. The sockets are .now turned to register the threaded openings therein. with the slots 16 and 17 and the pins 19 are then inserted radially inward through the socket openings and into the slots, and are secured in the socket openings by the screwthreads- The sockets at this stage of assembling are engaging overtthe outer ends ofthe gimbal block 15, and the rings 20 are now screwed 'over the free ends of theirrespective sockets 12 and 14 and the lattermay then be moved into abutting relation as shown in Fig. 2. 1

The length of, the slots 16 and 17: permit the shaft sections 10 and 11 to be swung into relatively acute. angles sotha-t the sections have a wide range of swingingmov'ement, one upon the other. The elongated formation of'the gimbal block 15 permits of this wide range ofmovement, and the reduced ends of thegimbal block move freely against the cylindrical inner walls of the sockets 12 and 14.-

It is of course understood that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of construction and design of the abovespecifically described embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and restrictedi only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: p i

. 1. A universaldriving coupling comprising a pair of sockets, agimbal block loosely fitting in said sockets, said block having a plurality of grooves extending lengthwise of, the block and being positionedvin staggored relation to 'each other, and a-iplurality of p ns carried by the sockets,. said pins loosely engaging in said grooves. j

. 2. A universal driving coupling comprising of a pair of sockets, an elliptical gimbal block loosely fitting into, said sockets. said block having rows.of,grooves arranged in staggered relation to each other, and inwardly extending coupling pins carried by the sockets for engagement in the grooves.

;, 3. A universal driving coupling compris ing a pair of sockets, said sockets having threaded ,end portions, a gimbal block loosely fitting atopposite ends in the sockets and having longitudinal grooves positioned in staggered relation to each other, coupling pins removably mounted in the sockets and engaging in said grooves, and reinforcing r ngs threaded over the inner endsof said sockets, said rings also being adapted .to lock the coupling pins in the sockets.

, 4;. A universaldriving coupling comprising a=pair of sockets havin threaded end portions, a gimbal block fitting at opposite ends, in said sockets, said block having longitudinal grooves arranged circumferentially about the block and in staggered relation to each other, coupling pins adjusts ably, mounted in the sockets for engagement in the grooves, threaded rings adapted to reinforce the inner ends of the sockets and lock the pins in the sockets, and a flexible cas ing for said sockets secured at opposite ends thereof to the sockets to prevent dirt or other foreign matter from injuring the coupling.

"5; A universal driving coupling comprising a pair of sockets, a gimbal block adapted to loosely seat atopposite ends thereof 111' said sockets, said block having two rows of longitudinal grooves, the grooves of one row being positioned in staggered relation to the grooves of the other row-,ycoupling pins in said sockets and'engaging in said grooves, reinforcing rings, mounted about the inner ends of said sockets, said rings also being adapted to retain the" coupling pins'in position, and-a flexible casing enclosing said sockets, said casing being removably. secured at opposite. ends'to the outer ends of said. sockets.

LOUIS E; LA cam-X. 

